August 28, 2040
Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ Λόγος: In the beginning was the Word(John 1:1)
καὶ γνώσεσθε τὴν ἀλήθειαν, καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια ἐλευθερώσει ὑμᾶς: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free(John 8:32)
Today's Reading
Ecclesiastes 4:1–6:12
Psalm 101:18–28 (MT: 102)
Proverbs 24:5–6
1 Corinthians 9:1–27
Old TestamentSeptuagint (Brenton)
Ecclesiastes 4:1–6:12
1So I returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun: and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of them that oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter: 2and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now. 3Better also than both these is he who has not yet been, who has not seen all the evil work that is done under the sun. 4And I saw all labour, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbour. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit. 5The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh. 6Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit. 7So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun. 8There is one [alone], and there is not a second; yea, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble. 9Two [are] better than one, [seeing] they have a good reward for their labour. 10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls, and there is not a second to lift him up. 11Also if two should lie together, they also get heat: but how shall one be warmed [alone]? 12And if one should prevail against [him], the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken. 13Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to take heed any longer. 14For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because [he] also that was in his kingdom has become poor. 15I beheld all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one's place. 16There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them: and the last shall not rejoice in him: for this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit. 17Keep thy foot, whensoever thou goest to the house of God; and [when thou art] near to hear, let thy sacrifice [be] better than the gift of fools: for they know not that they are doing evil. Chapter 51Be not hasty with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be swift to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven above, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 2For through the multitude of trial a dream comes; and a fool's voice is with a multitude of words. 3Whenever thou shalt vow a vow to God, defer not to pay it; for [he has] no pleasure in fools: pay thou therefore whatsoever thou shalt have vowed. 4[It is] better that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 5Suffer not thy mouth to lead thy flesh to sin; and say not in the presence of God, It was an error: lest God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the works of thy hands. 6For [there is evil] in a multitude of dreams and vanities and many words: but fear thou God. 7If thou shouldest see the oppression of the poor, and the wresting of judgment and of justice in the land, wonder not at the matter: for [there is] a high one to watch over him that is high, and high ones over them. 8Also the abundance of the earth is for every one: the king [is dependent on] the tilled field. 9He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver: and who has loved gain, in the abundance thereof? this is also vanity. 10In the multitude of good they are increased that eat it: and what virtue has the owner, but the right of beholding [it] with his eyes? 11The sleep of a servant is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but to one who is satiated with wealth, there is none that suffers him to sleep. 12There is an infirmity which I have seen under the sun, [namely], wealth kept for its owner to his hurt. 13And that wealth shall perish in an evil trouble: and [the man] begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 14As he came forth naked from his mother's womb, he shall return back as he came, and he shall receive nothing for his labour, that it should go [with him] in his hand. 15And this is also an evil infirmity: for as he came, so also shall he return: and what is his gain, for which he vainly labours? 16Yea, all his days are in darkness, and in mourning, and much sorrow, and infirmity, and wrath. 17Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing [for a man] to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labour in which he may labour under the sun, [all] the number of the days of his life which God has given to him: for it is his portion. 18Yea, and [as for] every man to whom God has given wealth and possessions, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to receive his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. 19For he shall not much remember the days of his life; for God troubles him in the mirth of his heart. Chapter 61There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is abundant with man: 2a man to whom God shall give wealth, and substance, and honour, and he wants nothing for his soul of all things that he shall desire, yet God shall not give him power to eat of it, for a stranger shall devour it: this is vanity, and an evil infirmity. 3If a man beget a hundred [children], and live many years, yea, however abundant the days of his years shall be, yet [if] his soul shall not be satisfied with good, and also he have no burial; I said, An untimely birth is better than he. 4For he came in vanity, and departs in darkness, and his name shall be covered in darkness. 5Moreover he has not seen the sun, nor known rest: there is [no more rest] to this one than another. 6Though he has lived to the return of a thousand years, yet he has seen no good: do not all go to one place? 7All the labour of a man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite shall not be satisfied. 8For [what] advantage has the wise man over the fool, since [even] the poor knows how to walk in the direction of life? 9The sight of the eyes is better than that which wanders in soul: this is also vanity, and waywardness of spirit. 10If anything has been, its name has already been called: and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is stronger than he. 11For there are many things which increase vanity. 12What advantage has a man? for who knows [what is] good for a man in his life, [during] the number of the life of the days of his vanity? and he has spent them as a shadow; for who shall tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
PsalmSeptuagint (Brenton)
Psalm 101:18–28(MT: 102)
MT Psalm 102 = LXX Psalm 101 (standard offset).
18to them that keep his covenant, and remember his commandments to do them. 19The Lord has prepared his throne in the heaven; and his kingdom rules over all. 20Bless the Lord, all ye his angels, mighty in strength, who perform his bidding, [ready] to hearken to the voice of his words. 21Bless the Lord, all ye his hosts; [ye] ministers of his that do his will. 22Bless the Lord, all his works, in every place of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.
ProverbSeptuagint (Brenton)
Proverbs 24:5–6
5A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate. 6War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
New TestamentKing James Version
1 Corinthians 9:1–27
1Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? 2If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. 3Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, 4Have we not power to eat and to drink? 5Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 6Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? 7Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? 8Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? 9For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. 13Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 15But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. 16For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. 24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
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